Lorius was patient enough to set his bowl aside, and Kore's scorched lips made him grin a little. In a semi-constant battle against starvation, waiting often went against one's better instincts. Lorius, against all odds, had developed an ability to wait for a very long, long time. Especially for an eight year old, even when it hurt, or when he was hungry himself. But then, he'd also learned that a certain amount of stillness meant you could be overlooked by those with a more predatory bend.
Kore's question made him tilt his head to the side a little, as he thought. Ultimately, he shook it 'no.' "A month ago, maybe. But she's... gone, now." Not that there weren't trustworthy neighbors, but Amele's care - in food alone if nothing else - would be quite a bit more than a 'few coppers' a month.